Two weeks before a new school year starts, stores are already getting crowded with parents buying supplies — and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is reminding shoppers to spend wisely.

Lea Reyes, a mother from Mangaldan, is one of the early shoppers.

Her daughter is entering Grade 10 at Mangaldan National High School, and she has already bought nine notebooks to get ahead of the rush.

“[Maagang bumili] para hindi na magastos ‘yung pera,” she said.

With more parents expected to start shopping soon, the DTI in Pangasinan offered practical money-saving tips for back-to-school buyers.

“Make a list and stick to it. Kung anong nasa listahan, ‘yun lang ang bibilhin,” Natalia Basto-Dalaten, Director of DTI-Pangasinan, said.

She also reminded the public to focus on needs, not wants, and consider reusing old supplies whenever possible.

“Hindi kailangan bago lagi ang gamit. Let us reuse and recycle,” Basto-Dalaten added.

For families with limited budgets, DTI advised exploring secondhand options.

“Consider second-hand options. May nagtitinda ng second-hand na bags,” she said.

Parents were also encouraged to take advantage of discounted school supplies through programs like the “Balik-Eskwela Diskwento Caravan,” organized by DTI.

EARLY BOOK DELIVERY

Meanwhile, Grade 8 and Senior High School students at Mangaldan National High School can now look forward to a better learning experience, as boxes of new Science books from the Department of Education (DepEd) arrive weeks before the new school year.

“Mahalaga ito kasi isa sa problem talaga ay ang kakulangan ng libro,” Principal Eduardo Castillo said.

The school administration is aiming for a one-to-one ratio — one book for each student — to improve access to learning materials.

“Kaya one is to one para enough ang resources ng mga estudyante,” Castillo said.

For students like incoming Grade 11 learner Kevin Fernandez, having their own copy makes a big difference.

“Dapat bawat estudyante isa talaga para makapag-advance reading kami,” he said.

More batches of textbooks are expected to arrive before classes officially begin on June 16.

The school hopes all students will have complete learning materials by then.

(with reports from Jasmin Gabriel-Galban and CJ Torida, GMA Regional TV One North Central Luzon)